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Remains of 1,200 Ukrainian service members returned as part of exchange with Russia

Source: Meduza

Ukraine has received the bodies of 1,200 fallen soldiers as part of an ongoing repatriation effort, the country’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said on Friday.

“According to the Russian side, the bodies belong to Ukrainian citizens, primarily military personnel. The repatriation was carried out in accordance with agreements reached in Istanbul,” the agency said in a statement.

Update: Russian news agencies Interfax and TASS, citing informed sources, report that during the June 13 exchange, the Ukrainian side did not transfer any bodies to the Russian side. The Russian Defense Ministry has not issued an official comment.

At those talks, Russian and Ukrainian delegations agreed to a large-scale exchange of prisoners, including the wounded and servicemen between the ages of 18 and 25. The two sides also committed to returning the remains of 6,000 dead. The exchange began on June 9. On June 11, the remains of 1,212 Ukrainian soldiers were returned to Ukraine, while Russia received the remains of 27 of its soldiers.